Bangkok tops accidents, Phitsanulok leads deaths despite overall drop

Road accidents and associated fatalities and injuries during the first three days of the Songkran festival dropped by 30%, 18% and 31%, respectively, compared to the same period last year, according to the Communication Safety Command Centre.

Since April 10, the centre reports that there have been 535 road accidents across the country, in which 75 people lost their lives and 488 others were injured. Public transport was involved in only three accidents, with no casualties.

Between April 11 and 13, about 7.8 million people used public transport for their journeys back to their home provinces or to tourist destinations, representing a 0.11% drop compared to the same period last year. Of these, 44% travelled by rail.

Speeding contributed to 63% of the accidents. Phitsanulok has the highest death toll so far (5), while Bangkok has recorded the highest number of accidents (33).